All of a sudden these two images started spinning in my head. Exactly eight years ago, I was screaming and shouting, “He won. He won. Camille, Barack Obama is the President of the United States. Can you believe it?” I was talking to the only one person within earshot of my euphoria. My child, just one month shy of her eighth birthday, looks at me and asks, “Why wouldn’t he win?"

Without shattering her innocence and optimism, I let her know that the history of this nation is dark, so much so that the idea of a Black man as president was not only historical but unfathomable for many, even as I reconciled in my own mind how a child my daughter’s age born at the dawn of the 21st century truly believed that ANYTHING—even a Black U. S. President was possible. Really, the kid was looking at me like “Why wouldn’t he win?” And for that brief second I thought that maybe, just maybe children her age could possibly grow up to be the purveyors of something that looked remotely like the post-racial society folks were fallaciously declaring already existed.

Fast forward eight short years. In the wee hours of the morning on Nov. 9, 2016, an almost 16-year-old Camille charges into my room and paces for several minutes with her hands on her head, shaking it in disbelief and asking “What happened?” over and over again. Now I have to explain how a bigot wins the presidency. How does a nation that holds itself up as one of the freest and finest in the world sit back and allow hate, racism, misogyny, fear and frenzy to win? No really, how does that happen? And I don’t need an electoral map to provide the answer. I need someone to tell me what is wrong with the hearts and minds of people.

Eight years ago, a little Black girl not even eight years old couldn’t conceive of one single reason a Black man could not win the U.S. presidency. Today, she is struggling to understand one reason that White man, who if he himself is not actually a racist has no problem pandering to and aligning himself with the underbelly of America’s racist society to carve his path to the White House, won with ease. A generation of children that had every reason to believe that anything was possible just had the wind knocked out of them. Well, Trump was right about one thing—greatness is far, far away from America’s grasp.

And another thing . . . I never once even joked about leaving the country in the event of Trump win. To be sure, I ain’t going nowhere. And I will not have deal with Donald Trump or the band of evil idiots that elected him for four years. Nope, they will have to deal with me. Okay . . . Carry on . . .

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality…I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” -Martin Luther King, Jr.

The fated day has come and a new president has been elected, Donald Trump. Our future president has made it abundantly clear that his political positions are predicated on bias, bigotry and maintaining partisanship. Despite the dismal social climate and bleak political forecast, I encourage African Americans to maintain their faith in humanity and to continue to participate in the democratic process. As a black- owned media entity, it is our civic duty and moral responsibility to continue challenge the inequitable policies and practices that aim to further dismantle the structure of the black family and that seek to destroy the fabric of our community.

For centuries, this country has been plagued with biased racial and gender-based ideologies that have suffocated the voices and stifled the progress of many of its citizens. Despite adversity, African Americans and women have made significant gains on the road to equality. Donald Trump’s presidential victory lights the path showing us how much farther we must go.

Although fatigued and disheartened, we cannot allow ourselves to drown in a sea of color or gender apathy. It is now time for us to summon the strength of our ancestors and allow their spirit of perseverance to anchor us as we stand tall, strong and united. Our journey will not be easy, but it is worth it. I encourage all of us to serve as allies of justice in the war for peace and equality. It is my hope that we can stand collectively against any effort made to marginalize black and brown communities and resist any effort intended to weaken our voice. We have risen above the tenure and aftermath of presidents in the past. We will survive President Donald Trump. And again…like air, We will rise.